Trolley-wire ear.



W. O. STARKEY.

TROLLEY WIRE EAR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1909.

1,085,829, Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Fig-1 Fig -4: M0 2 /6 KX O WITNESSES: I LVVENTOR.

Villiam C Std/PR3).

Xw/M

WILLIAM C. STAR-KEY, or zronsvrnnn, INDIANA.

TROLLEY-WIRE Em.

nos-see Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Application filed August 12, 1 909. Serial No. 512,509.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, \VILLIAn C. STARKEY, of Zionsville, county of Boone, and State of Indiana, have invented'a certain new and 5 useful TrOlley-W/ireEar; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

My invention relates to supporting means for electrical conductors and it is especially adapted for use in the construction and formation of trolley wire ears.

The primary feature of my invention consists in the substitution of extruded metal for the metals now in use in the construction of supporting means for electrical conductors whereby a superior and more durable support is obtained giving greater improvedand beneficial results and having more eiiicient and useful properties.

A further object is to construct a trolley car of ductile metal of high tensile strength, the lips of which can be made thin and clenched easily without cracking or splitting but when clenched remains constant and rigid and also having the properties of great elongation and elasticity resulting in smooth wearing surfaces when in use there- 0 by preventing reboundingand sparking when the trolley wheel comes in contact with the end of the runner-piece of the ear.

Another object is to provide a trolley ear of uniform dimensions and fiber throughout the length thereof, that is, so as to have the same thickness at corresponding points throughout, thereby obviating the necessity of machining the parts in order to in sure uniform contact and electrical con- 40 ductivity which is now necessary in the construct-ionand use of trolley wire ears made from other metal.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction that will permit of the runner piece of the trolley-wire ear being made of different lengths to suit the varying conditions of the trolley wire.

i The nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of an ear with a supporting boss attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a central transverse section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a side elevation-of the same as shown in Fig.

1 with a binding post attached for connection with a feed wire. Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 1 with a pair of strain lugs for the stay wires.

1n the drawings the trolley wire ear is composed of a runner piece with an upper portion 10 and a lower portion 11 connected lntegr'ally and each similarly formed in cross section from end to end ofthe ear.

The part 11 is provided with two down-.

wardly projecting parallel lips extending the full length thereof and which are adapt ed to be clenched partially, about the circular trolley wire. The upper portion 10 is rounded in cross-section and is connected with the lower Portion by a narrow web.

Since the runner piece is formed of uniform dimensions throughout, it can be made 1n long pieces if desired and sections cut therefrom at the time and. place for use and of suitable length for the particular use. It is supported by a supporting boss 12 that has a central threaded socket at its upper end and two paralleldownwardly extending flanges 13 adapted to envelop the upper portion 10 and the web part ofthe lower portion 11 ofthe runner piece as shown in Fig. 2, and is held in place thereon by rivets through the flanges 18 and web portion of the runner piece.

14 or other means that extend;

' In Fig. 3 there is shown a. binding post 15, the lower part of which is formed similar to the boss 12 and is similarly attached to the runner piece. In Fig. 4 there are strain lugs 16 with the lower parts thereof formed similarly to said boss 12 and similarly attached to the runner piece and adapted for the connection of stay wires for supporting the trolley wire.

If for any reason'any part of-the con struction shown should become defective, it can be removed and the remaining part or arts thereof be reunited with a substitute for the removed part. The parts may be made integral, bolted, soldered or otherwise held together, if preferred, instead of rivet-' T have found that the use of extruded metal' for supports of electrical conductors has many. advantages .over the metals now used in the art, to wit: It is much stronger havinga high elastic limit. It has greater elongation and a' fine grain giving it-g'reat tensile strength.

Further, the extrusion f1 process insures a perfect structure, permitting the parts to be fitted together perfectly vit out machining. I also find that the lips the passage of the trolley wheel whereby i ol the runner piece can be made very thin closely following the contour of the trolley wire when made of extruded metal which allows tree passage of the trolley wheel, insuring good and smooth contact without 0bstruciion and at the same time retaining the required tensile strength for supporting and clenching purposes.

lt. \vi ll be obvious to those skilled in the art that my support can be made of one or more extruded metal parts without departing from the principle of my invention and that said invention can be used Without the 1; element described as a boss, or other immaterial changes can be made Without deviating from my invention.

What I claim is l. A support for electrical conductors so made of extruded metal having a grooved portion for gripping the conductor.

A support for electrical conductors made of extruded metal, having an 'elon gated grooved portion for gripping the con 2:) ductor.

3. A trolley wire support made of ex-.

trade-l metal having lips by means-of which the ti tdley wire is supported.

l. A trolley wire support comprising a boss and an extruded metal runner piece having lips of substantial length to support the trolley Wire by clenching.

5. A trolley Wire support comprising a boss and a grooved extruded metal runner piece having lips of substantial length to support the trolley wire by clenching.

(5. A trolley wire support having a boss, strain lugs and an extruded metal runner piece; said extruded metal runner piece having a grooved portion by means of which the trolley wire is supported.

7. A trolley Wire ear comprising a boss and a runner piece made of extruded meta-l; said runner piece having a smooth grooved elf) portion terminating in thin longitudinal lips; said lips being adapted to closely grip the conductor. v

8. A trolley" Wire ear comprising a boss and a runner piece made of extruded metal; to said runner piece having a smooth grooved portion terminating in thin longitudinal lips; said lips being adapted to closely grip the conductor, and leave no obstruction to I I l arcing is prevented When said wheel contarts with the runner piece of the car.

9. A support for electrical conductors comprising a boss and a runner piece made of extruded metal; said runner piece hav ing a groove formed therein terminating in thin lips which closely grip the conductors insuring the maximum conductivity, and obviating all obstruction to the free passage 011a movable contact thereby preventing arcing. a

10. A support for electrical conductors made of extruded metal having formed therein a groove, the margins of which terminate in thin lips which are adapted to be clenched around and grip thev conductors along the inner surface of the groove.

11. A support for electrical conductors comprising a boss, a runner piece made of extruded metal connected thereto; said runner piece being provided with a groove, the margins of which terminate in thin lips which are adapted to be clenched around and grip the conductor along the inner surface of the groove insuring maximum conductivity, the dimensions of the lips being such as to present no obstruction to a moving contact obviating arcing.

12. The combination in a trolley wire car of a boss and an elongated runner piece made of extruded metal; said runner piece being provided with a groove having walls which closely bind and clench the trolley Wire throughout the surface of the groove.

13. A support for electrical conductors comprising a boss and a runner piece made of extruded metal; said runner piece having a groove formed therein termii'iating in thin lips which closely grip and bind the conductors insuring the maximum conductivity.

14. A trolley wire support made of extruded metal, having lips adapted to be peened around a portion of the trolley Wire to support the same.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my sign vure in the presence of the witnesses herein named.

WILLIAM C. STARKEY.

lVitnesses:

G. H. BoINK, O. M. MCLAUGHLIN.

{Gopiea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Pat nts. Washington, D. C." 

